Mayor Proposes Lower Taxes for Danbury Residents

Calling it "very much a maintenance budget," Mayor Mark Boughton proposed a lower tax rate for Danbury residents even though city spending is likely to increase.

According to Newstimes.com, the City Council heard the $257 million plan earlier this week. This is an increase of $6.5 million, or 2.6 percent, over the current budget.

Within this plan, the mayor proposed lower property taxes and no layoffs or major departmental cuts, however, the city's current hiring freeze will not go away any time soon. The freeze does not include police, emergency services and the department of public works.

The school system could actually take a hit, though. Education officials say Danbury schools need a $7 million increase for the coming year. The proposed budget offers almost half of that number at $4 million.

This all needs to be voted on, and the City Council has the next few weeks to mull it over. Final adjustments to the proposal by Boughton will be presented at next month's meeting.